Use of discretionary funds

Councillors may use their discretionary funds in any of the following ways:

to spend on a community purpose

to allocate for capital works of the local government that are for a community purpose

to allocate to a community organisation for a community purpose.

Where a councillor wants to allocate some of their discretionary funds to a community organisation, the councillor must do so in accordance with the requirements of the councillors' discretionary funds notice and the community grants policy of your local government.

Reporting to the community

After a councillor has spent money from their discretionary funds, a notice must be published as soon as practicable on your local government's website and in a visible place in the local government's public office stating the amount and purpose for which the money was spent and, if the money was given to a community organisation, the name of the organisation.

The local government is also required to list all grants to community organisations made out of councillor discretionary funds and the purpose of the grants in its annual report for the year.

Applying for a grant from your local government

Contact your local government or visit its website to find out what funding is available and how to apply.